"I think the forces that are at work now favor the
Republicans and conservatives very obviously," Pawlenty said of the
GOP's presidential prospects.

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The Minnesota governor,
who's one of the few Republican contenders for the White House to have
put together an initial campaign infrastructure, cautioned that there's
no certainty for Republicans, either in 2012, or in this fall's midterm
elections.

"I think the Republicans are going to do well in
2010, but anyone who tells you they can tell you with certainty what's
going to happen in 2012 -- people really don't know that far ahead," he
said during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

As for
whether or not he would run, Pawlenty said he's made no decisions but
would begin considering a presidential bid in early 2011, after he's
left office as governor of Minnesota.

"I don't know what I'm
going to do after I'm done being governor," he said. "As to my future,
I'll probably sketch that out and decide that in early 2011."

Pawlenty emphasized that he would be focused on helping Republican candidates this year, though.

"I
haven't decided to or not. What I'm going to do is use 2010 to help the
cause," Pawlenty said. "But as to the future, I don't know. We'll see
what that holds."